As an update to my earlier post about 419/'Nigerian' scams, Jon Edelstein (aka The Head Heeb) informs me of some new versions of it that I hadn't been aware of that indicate further mutation of the basic scam beyond it's Nigerian/Zairean roots, including the interesting news that someone purporting to be one of the white farmers from Zimbabwe needs help to get money out of the country. As he comments, these versions are playing on much more charitable instincts (though they are still attempted frauds) but the people who are suckered in by this are more likely to be numbered among the gullible than the greedy and, depending on the circumstances, probably deserving of some sympathy.

He also mentions that he's heard of the scam originating as far away as Tonga, which makes you wonder what sort of variations will arise in the future. I can certainly envision an Iraqi variant offering the recipient to share in Saddam Hussein's millions in the aftermath of any war in the Gulf.

By the way, if you've haven't Jon's blog yet, it's definitely worth reading, if only for the amazing range of subjects he covers knowledgeably. How he finds the time to do it, I don't know, but maybe he'll go silent for about a month sometime in the future and then come back after having caught up with all his sleep!